Broken Machine

Sounds like … ’90s alt for the ’00 set. Hard rock can be a tough pill to swallow for some, but Broken Machine has mastered the art of making loud music work for the masses thanks to catchy melodies and frontman Schyler Douglas’s Dave Grohl–conjuring snarl.

Freakin’ on Speakers

Sounds like … the bump, grind, and rockin’ good time of the world’s best wedding band but with all original material. Think Jimi Hendrix, George Clinton, and Stray Cats thrown together and blended ’til smooth.

Hesse

Sounds like … hard rock for smart kids. If you’re going to name your band after a Nobel Prize–winning writer, you better be able to back it up. Lucky for us, these four pack a punch with grinding guitars, dual drummers, and amps that are forever cranked to 11.

Indian Trading Furs

Formed in … 2011.

The lineup is … Kyran Million (vocals/guitar), Will Gallivan (vocals/guitar/banjo), Michael Million (bass), Joey Mcdermott (drums).

Sounds like … Mumford & Sons thrown into a circle pit. Breakneck guitar parts, whip-like drum fills, and soaring vocals have helped move this trio from street corners to music venues throughout Santa Barbara. And, boy, are we happy they did. This is music that deserves a warm room and a cold beer.

The Kinds

Sounds like … back-porch jams. Since shedding their old namesake (Walking West), The Kinds have blossomed into a delicate folk ensemble with harmonies that wrap you up like a warm blanket on a cool night.

Millions

Sounds like … parlor piano like you’ve never heard it before. Lompoc’s Millions have officially ramped back up, and we couldn’t be happier. For as long as we’ve been listening, Randall Sena’s matter-of-fact lyrics, whip-smart compositions, and hushed deliveries have been inducing chills, not to mention reminding us of that other piano bard/production wizard, Richard Swift.

The Mutineers

Sounds like … the soundtrack to the best bar crawl of your life. Somewhere in between Social Distortion’s snotty rockabilly and Flogging Molly’s anthemic folk lie The Mutineers, whose hopeful ballads and sing-along-ready stompers make us all want to raise a glass.

Sounds like … a small army of Janis Joplins. And washboards. These onetime Farmers Market staples have outgrown their busking gigs thanks to bluesy all-female harmonies, gypsy-tinged compositions, and a whole lot of foot-stompin’ percussion.

Rhett Israel

Formed in … September 2011.

The lineup is … Rhett Israel Putnam (vocals/production/composition).

Sounds like … an electronic smorgasbord that mixes Top 40 production tricks with Ben Gibbard’s Postal Service–era naïveté. Israel’s voice is sweet and honeyed, even with the Auto-Tune, making for a potent collection of catchy hooks paired with adorably lovelorn lyrics.

Skyler Stonestreet

Formed in … October 2008.

The lineup is … Skyler Stonestreet (vocals/songwriting/guitar).

Sounds like … bubblegum with a twist. Check your Katy Perry jokes at the door. Skyler Stonestreet’s quirky take on pop music plays out more like a sultry Regina Spektor than anything topping the charts of late. The songs are vintage-sounding, electronica-free, and provide ample room for Stonestreet’s breathy coos to shine through.

Comments

Freakin' On Speakers IS NOT a "wedding band". They won the Downtown Sound Battle of the Bands semi-finals with the most votes for any band in any battle up until then. Jake Janson, the end winner, had to call in the Westmont Militia to win the final round, and even though a lot of FOS fans couldn't get in the door (45 min wait) FOS lost by a very small margin. FOS is certainly a dance band out to put a smile on everyone's lips with a mix of rock, jazz and plain old fun!